In a major win for fiscal conservatives, the House has passed a $9.4 billion rescission package aimed at cutting back bloated spending and permanently defunding some of Washington’s most entrenched programs. Dubbed the “DOGE Cuts,” the bill is part of the broader Department of Government Efficiency agenda backed by President Trump and his allies.
The bill passed by a narrow 214–212 margin, with all Democrats voting against it and a handful of Republicans expressing concerns over specific line items. But the majority held firm, delivering on a campaign promise to claw back funds already allocated earlier in the fiscal year.
What’s being cut:
-
$8.3 billion in foreign aid, including grants to USAID and global health initiatives like PEPFAR.
-
$1.1 billion from public broadcasting, effectively stripping taxpayer funding from NPR and PBS.
Speaker Mike Johnson called the move a “long-overdue reset,” arguing that American taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bankroll foreign governments or legacy media with a political agenda. “This is about restoring sanity to federal spending and aligning priorities with the American people,” Johnson said.
Supporters say the rescissions reflect the values of the DOGE initiative—targeting waste, trimming bureaucracy, and returning unused or misallocated funds. They argue the cuts are not just symbolic but structurally significant, converting what had been temporary holds into lasting legislative wins.
Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the bill as reckless, claiming it jeopardizes global AIDS relief efforts and strips vital educational services from rural and underserved communities. Several prominent Senate Democrats vowed to block the measure, while some moderate Republicans have signaled hesitation.
But with a ticking clock—the rescission authority expires July 18 unless the Senate acts—the pressure is now on. If the Senate approves the cuts, the bill heads to President Trump’s desk, where it is expected to be signed immediately.
The DOGE Cuts may be just the beginning. As Trump signals a broader government overhaul, this vote sets the tone for what could become one of the most aggressive efforts to scale back federal spending in a generation.